The technique of scoliosis revision surgery utilizing L-rod instrumentation

Operative treatment of failed scoliosis surgery requires an instrumentation that is readily adaptable to the multiple causes and sequelae of failed spinal surgery. A "modified L-rod" technique is described for segmental spinal instrumentation to treat failed scoliosis surgery. Nine patients underwent 10 scoliosis revision operations, with an average follow-up of 37.1 months. Three neuromuscular, five idiopathic, and one congenital scoliosis were revised. The average blood loss for the L-rod instrumentation was 2,960 ml, and the average operative time was 6.2 h. Four patients had attempted correction of their deformities, with 21.2% improvement. Five cases had triangular base-transverse bar pelvic fixation. None of the 10 revisions had pseudarthrosis at follow-up. No postoperative immobilization was used. Complications included one fracture of a fusion mass below the L-rods, penetration of the skin by a prominent wire with subsequent infection, minimal loss of correction in one case, and one broken wire without loss of correction.